Head, Neck and Shoulder Protection Assembly

ABSTRACT

A head, neck and shoulder protection assembly for protecting the head, neck and shoulders of a user includes a pair of shoulder pads. A helmet, which has a bottom edge defining an opening, is reversibly couplable to the shoulder pads. The bottom edge is substantially complementary to an upper surface of the shoulder pads. The helmet is couplable to the shoulder pads such that the helmet is fixedly positioned relative to the shoulder pads. The opening is configured for insertion of the user&#39;s head into the helmet. The helmet is positioned to couple to the pair of shoulder pads, such that movement of the helmet relative to the shoulder pads is restricted. The helmet is dimensionally larger than the head and neck of the user, such that the user has full range of movement of the head and neck of within the helmet without the user&#39;s head contacting the helmet.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE Field of the Disclosure

The disclosure relates to protection assemblies and more particularly pertains to a new protection assembly for protecting the head, neck and shoulders of a user.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a pair of shoulder pads. A helmet, which has a bottom edge defining an opening, is reversibly couplable to the shoulder pads. The bottom edge is substantially complementary to an upper surface of the shoulder pads. The helmet is couplable to the shoulder pads such that the helmet is fixedly positioned relative to the shoulder pads. The opening is configured for insertion of the user's head into the helmet. The helmet is positioned to couple to the pair of shoulder pads, such that movement of the helmet relative to the shoulder pads is restricted. The helmet is dimensionally larger than the head and neck of the user, such that the user has full range of movement of the head and neck of within the helmet without the user's head contacting the helmet.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front in-use view of a head, neck and shoulder protection assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a side in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a back view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 5 thereof, a new protection assembly embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, the head, neck and shoulder protection assembly 10 generally comprises a pair of shoulder pads 12. A helmet 14 is reversibly couplable to the pair of shoulder pads 12. The helmet 14 has a bottom edge 16 that defines an opening 18. The bottom edge 16 is substantially complementary to an upper surface 20 of the pair of shoulder pads 12. The helmet 14 is couplable to the pair of shoulder pads 12, such that the helmet 14 is fixedly positioned relative to the pair of shoulder pads 12. The helmet 14 is dimensionally larger than a head and neck of a user. The helmet 14 is substantially globe shaped. The helmet 14 is substantially transparent. The helmet 14 comprises impact resistant plastic. A cutout 22 is positioned in a rear face 24 of the helmet 14 proximate to the bottom edge 16. The cutout 22 is substantially rectangularly shaped.

A first interface 26 is coupled to the bottom edge 16 of the helmet 14 and extends over a chest portion 28 of the pair of shoulder pads 12. The first interface 26 is substantially rectangularly shaped. A plurality of first fasteners 30 is coupled to the first interface 26. The plurality of first fasteners 30 comprises first fasteners 30 positioned singly proximate to each corner 32 of the first interface 26. A plurality of second fasteners 34 is coupled to the chest portion 28 of the pair of shoulder pads 12. The second fasteners 34 are complementary to the first fasteners 30. The plurality of second fasteners 34 is numerically equivalent to the plurality of first fasteners 30. Each second fastener 34 is positioned on the first interface 26 such that the second fastener 34 is positioned to couple to an associated first fastener 30 to rigidly couple the helmet 14 to the chest portion 28 of the pair of shoulder pads 12.

A second interface 36 is coupled to the bottom edge 16 of the helmet 14 and extends over a back portion 38 of the pair of shoulder pads 12. The second interface 36 is substantially rectangularly shaped. A plurality of first couplers 40 is coupled to the second interface 36. The plurality of first couplers 40 comprises four first couplers 40 positioned proximate to each edge intersection 42 of the second interface 36. A plurality of second couplers 44 is coupled to the back portion 38 of the pair of shoulder pads 12. The second couplers 44 are complementary to the first couplers 40. The plurality of second couplers 44 is numerically equivalent to the plurality of first couplers 40. Each second coupler 44 is positioned on the second interface 36 such that the second coupler 44 is positioned to couple to an associated first coupler 40 to rigidly couple the helmet 14 to the back portion 38 of the pair of shoulder pads 12.

In one embodiment, each second fastener 34 and the associated first fastener 30 comprises a turn lock 46, and, each second coupler 44 and the associated first coupler 40 comprises a turn lock 46.

A plurality of vents 48 is positioned in the helmet 14. The vents 48 are positioned in the helmet 14 such that the helmet 14 is configured for air to circulate about a head positioned in the helmet 14. Each vent 48 comprises a penetration 50 positioned in the helmet 14. The penetration 50 is circular. Each of a set of four supports 52 extends radially from a center 54 of the penetration 50 to a circumference 56 of the penetration 50. Each support 52 is perpendicular to adjacent supports 52, such that the set of four supports 52 is quadrate cross shaped.

In one embodiment, the plurality of vents 48 comprises a pair of side vents 58 positioned singly in opposing sides 60 of the helmet 14 and a rear vent 62 positioned in the rear face 24 of the helmet 14.

A visor 64 is hingedly coupled to a front face 66 of the helmet 14 and positioned to partially cover an orifice 68 positioned in the front face 66. The visor 64 is coupled proximate to an upper rim 70 of the orifice 68. The visor 64 is arcuate, such that the visor 64 is complementary to the front face 66. The visor 64 is transparent. In another embodiment, the visor 64 is tinted.

A shield 72 is hingedly coupled to the front face 66 of the helmet 14 and positioned to partially cover the orifice 68. The shield 72 is coupled proximate to a lower rim 74 of the orifice 68. The shield 72 is arcuate, such that the shield 72 is complementary to the front face 66. The shield 72 is transparent. The shield 72 and the visor 64 together are complementary to the orifice 68.

A plurality of slots 76 is positioned in the shield 72. Each slot 76 extends horizontally from proximate to a respective opposing side rim 78 of the shield 72 toward a center line 80 of the shield 72. The plurality of slots 76 comprises eight slots 76 distributed equally in two rows 82. Each row 82 is positioned proximate to the respective opposing side rim 78.

A guard 84 is coupled to an exterior 86 of the shield 72. The guard 84 is substantially triangularly shaped when viewed perpendicularly from the shield 72. A pair of crossbeams 88 is positioned in and coupled to the guard 84.

In use, the opening 18 is configured for insertion of the user's head into the helmet 14. The helmet 14 is positioned to couple to the pair of shoulder pads 12. Movement of the helmet 14 relative to the pair of shoulder pads 12 is restricted. The helmet 14 is dimensionally larger than the head and neck of the user. The user has full range of movement of the head and neck of within the helmet 14 without the user's head contacting the helmet 14.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements. 

I claim:
 1. A head, neck and shoulder protection assembly comprising: a pair of shoulder pads; a helmet reversibly couplable to said pair of shoulder pads, said helmet having a bottom edge defining an opening, said bottom edge being substantially complementary to an upper surface of said pair of shoulder pads, wherein said helmet is couplable to said pair of shoulder pads such that said helmet is fixedly positioned relative to said pair of shoulder pads, said helmet being dimensionally larger than a head and neck of a user; and wherein said opening is configured for insertion of the user's head into said helmet, wherein said helmet is positioned to couple to said pair of shoulder pads, wherein movement of said helmet relative to said pair of shoulder pads is restricted, and wherein said helmet is dimensionally larger than the head and neck of the user such that the user has full range of movement of the head and neck of within said helmet without the user's head contacting said helmet.
 2. The assembly of claim 1, further including said helmet being substantially globe shaped, said helmet being substantially transparent.
 3. The assembly of claim 1, further including said helmet comprising impact resistant plastic.
 4. The assembly of claim 1, further including a cutout positioned in a rear face of said helmet proximate to said bottom edge, said cutout being substantially rectangularly shaped.
 5. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a first interface coupled to said bottom edge of said helmet and extending over a chest portion of said pair of shoulder pads, said first interface being substantially rectangularly shaped; a plurality of first fasteners coupled to said first interface; a plurality of second fasteners coupled to said chest portion of said pair of shoulder pads, said second fasteners being complementary to said first fasteners, said plurality of second fasteners being numerically equivalent to said plurality of first fasteners; and wherein each said second fastener is positioned on said first interface such that said second fastener is positioned to couple to an associated said first fastener to rigidly couple said helmet to said chest portion of said pair of shoulder pads.
 6. The assembly of claim 5, further including said plurality of first fasteners comprising first fasteners positioned singly proximate to each corner of said first interface.
 7. The assembly of claim 5, further comprising: a second interface coupled to said bottom edge of said helmet and extending over a back portion of said pair of shoulder pads, said second interface being substantially rectangularly shaped; a plurality of first couplers coupled to said second interface; a plurality of second couplers coupled to said back portion of said pair of shoulder pads, said second couplers being complementary to said first couplers, said plurality of second couplers being numerically equivalent to said plurality of first couplers; and wherein each said second coupler is positioned on said second interface such that said second coupler is positioned to couple to an associated said first coupler to rigidly couple said helmet to said back portion of said pair of shoulder pads.
 8. The assembly of claim 7, further including said plurality of first couplers comprising four first couplers positioned proximate to each edge intersection of said second interface.
 9. The assembly of claim 7, further comprising: each said second fastener and said associated said first fastener comprising a turn lock; and each said second coupler and said associated said first coupler comprising a turn lock.
 10. The assembly of claim 1, further including a plurality of vents positioned in said helmet, wherein said vents are positioned in said helmet such that said helmet is configured for air to circulate about a head positioned in said helmet.
 11. The assembly of claim 10, further including each said vent comprising: a penetration positioned in said helmet, said penetration being circular; and a set of four supports extending radially from a center of said penetration to a circumference of said penetration, each said support being perpendicular to adjacent said supports, such that said set of four supports is quadrate cross shaped.
 12. The assembly of claim 10, further including said plurality of vents comprising: a pair of side vents positioned singly in opposing sides of said helmet, and a rear vent positioned in a rear face of said helmet.
 13. The assembly of claim 1, further including a visor hingedly coupled to a front face of said helmet and positioned to partially cover an orifice positioned in said front face, said visor being coupled proximate to an upper rim of said orifice, said visor being arcuate, such that said visor is complementary to said front face, said visor being transparent.
 14. The assembly of claim 13, further including said visor being tinted.
 15. The assembly of claim 13, further including a shield hingedly coupled to said front face of said helmet and positioned to partially cover said orifice, said shield being coupled proximate to a lower rim of said orifice, said shield being arcuate, such that said shield is complementary to said front face, said shield being transparent.
 16. The assembly of claim 15, further including said shield and said visor together being complementary to said orifice.
 17. The assembly of claim 15, further including a plurality of slots positioned in said shield, each said slot extending horizontally from proximate to a respective opposing side rim of said shield toward a center line of said shield.
 18. The assembly of claim 17, further including said plurality of slots comprising eight said slots distributed equally in two rows, each said row being positioned proximate to said respective opposing side rim.
 19. The assembly of claim 15, further including comprising: a guard coupled to an exterior of said shield, said guard being substantially triangularly shaped when viewed perpendicularly from said shield; and a pair of crossbeams positioned in and coupled to said guard.
 20. A head, neck and shoulder protection assembly comprising: a pair of shoulder pads; a helmet reversibly couplable to said pair of shoulder pads, said helmet having a bottom edge defining an opening, said bottom edge being substantially complementary to an upper surface of said pair of shoulder pads, wherein said helmet is couplable to said pair of shoulder pads such that said helmet is fixedly positioned relative to said pair of shoulder pads, said helmet being dimensionally larger than a head and neck of a user, said helmet being substantially globe shaped, said helmet being substantially transparent, said helmet comprising impact resistant plastic; a cutout positioned in a rear face of said helmet proximate to said bottom edge, said cutout being substantially rectangularly shaped; a first interface coupled to said bottom edge of said helmet and extending over a chest portion of said pair of shoulder pads, said first interface being substantially rectangularly shaped; a plurality of first fasteners coupled to said first interface, said plurality of first fasteners comprising first fasteners positioned singly proximate to each corner of said first interface; a plurality of second fasteners coupled to said chest portion of said pair of shoulder pads, said second fasteners being complementary to said first fasteners, said plurality of second fasteners being numerically equivalent to said plurality of first fasteners, wherein each said second fastener is positioned on said first interface such that said second fastener is positioned to couple to an associated said first fastener to rigidly couple said helmet to said chest portion of said pair of shoulder pads; a second interface coupled to said bottom edge of said helmet and extending over a back portion of said pair of shoulder pads, said second interface being substantially rectangularly shaped; a plurality of first couplers coupled to said second interface, said plurality of first couplers comprising four first couplers positioned proximate to each edge intersection of said second interface; a plurality of second couplers coupled to said back portion of said pair of shoulder pads, said second couplers being complementary to said first couplers, said plurality of second couplers being numerically equivalent to said plurality of first couplers, wherein each said second coupler is positioned on said second interface such that said second coupler is positioned to couple to an associated said first coupler to rigidly couple said helmet to said back portion of said pair of shoulder pads; each said second fastener and said associated said first fastener comprising a turn lock; each said second coupler and said associated said first coupler comprising a turn lock; a plurality of vents positioned in said helmet, wherein said vents are positioned in said helmet such that said helmet is configured for air to circulate about a head positioned in said helmet, each said vent comprising: a penetration positioned in said helmet, said penetration being circular, and a set of four supports extending radially from a center of said penetration to a circumference of said penetration, each said support being perpendicular to adjacent said supports, such that said set of four supports is quadrate cross shaped; said plurality of vents comprising: a pair of side vents positioned singly in opposing sides of said helmet, and a rear vent positioned in said rear face of said helmet; a visor hingedly coupled to a front face of said helmet and positioned to partially cover an orifice positioned in said front face, said visor being coupled proximate to an upper rim of said orifice, said visor being arcuate, such that said visor is complementary to said front face, said visor being transparent, said visor being tinted; a shield hingedly coupled to said front face of said helmet and positioned to partially cover said orifice, said shield being coupled proximate to a lower rim of said orifice, said shield being arcuate, such that said shield is complementary to said front face, said shield being transparent; said shield and said visor together being complementary to said orifice; a plurality of slots positioned in said shield, each said slot extending horizontally from proximate to a respective opposing side rim of said shield toward a center line of said shield, said plurality of slots comprising eight said slots distributed equally in two rows, each said row being positioned proximate to said respective opposing side rim; a guard coupled to an exterior of said shield, said guard being substantially triangularly shaped when viewed perpendicularly from said shield, a pair of crossbeams positioned in and coupled to said guard; and wherein said opening is configured for insertion of the user's head into said helmet, wherein said helmet is positioned to couple to said pair of shoulder pads, wherein movement of said helmet relative to said pair of shoulder pads is restricted, and wherein said helmet is dimensionally larger than the head and neck of the user such that the user has full range of movement of the head and neck of within said helmet without the user's head contacting said helmet. 